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Sherman County eNews #257

CONTENT

Sherman County Back to School Night, Aug. 31

Public Meeting Notice: Sherman County Court, Sept. 6

Cascade Singers Community Choir to Begin Fall Season, Sept. 11

Unreasonable Expectations

Reject any ‘cold calls’ (imposters) claiming to be from Oregon SHIBA

Links: Things to Think About & Things to Do

“When you ask outsiders what is relevant to them, you don’t just learn what matters to them. You learn what matters to you, what protocols you are able or willing to shift and which you are not.” ~Nina Simon in The Art of Relevance

2. Public Meeting Notice: Sherman County Court, Sept. 6

The Sherman County Court will be in session on Wednesday, September 6, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. in the Circuit Courtroom at the Sherman County Courthouse, 500 Court Street, Moro, Oregon, 97039. Agenda, including updates, will be posted on the Sherman County Website at www.co.sherman.or.us.

3. Cascade Singers Community Choir to Begin Fall Season, Sept. 11

Cascade Singers community choir begins its fall season Monday, Sept. 11. Work will begin on a major classical work, Mozart’s “Missa Brevis in F,” and other choral selections for a holiday concert in December. The Singers meet under the direction of Lloyd Walworth Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 10th and Union Streets, in The Dalles. One-hour work sessions also take place Thursdays at 7 p.m. Rehearsals are open to all interested singers who will then audition with the director. The choir often appears at community events, with formal concerts at Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, and late spring.

4. Unreasonable Expectations

Today let’s talk about self-blame. Unreasonable expectations and self-blame can really make our lives miserable. For example, how often do you hear yourself say something such as, “I left the car lights on – how could I be so stupid?” Or, “I really put my foot in it at the staff meeting – I guess I will never learn.”

Do these sound familiar? Self-blaming statements like these are commonplace for far too many of us. Now, there is nothing the matter with the first part of these statements – they are just simple facts. However, it is the second part – that judgmental blast – that keeps us feeling miserable.

What if we get rid of the judgments and substitute something more positive? For instance: “I left the car lights on – what an inconvenience! Next time, I will be more careful.” Or, “I sure did put my foot in it this time! That is not like me at all. Next time, I will do it differently,” and then tell yourself how you will act the next time the same, or similar, situation arises.

Do you see the difference? While you are acknowledging that your behavior could use some improvement, you are also recognizing your basic competence and stating your intention to do better in the future.

Instead of judging yourself harshly, why not just allow yourself to make mistakes now and then without making a big deal about it. Then, give yourself a positive goal to shoot for. You will find that your self-esteem will really grow as a result. ~The Pacific Institute

5. Reject any ‘cold calls’ (imposters) claiming to be from Oregon SHIBA

(Salem) – Oregon’s Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program (SHIBA) staff members and volunteers help consumers understand and enroll in Medicare, but they never make unsolicited phone calls. Anyone who did not contact SHIBA first should refuse to share any personal information and hang up on any unexpected caller claiming to be from SHIBA.

Rejecting this type of “cold call” is a smart habit to avoid scams, especially now, as Washington’s insurance commissioner has reported calls to consumers in that state from people falsely claiming to be from Washington’s SHIBA program.

Oregon SHIBA has received one report of a similar suspicious call being made here.

“We help people over the phone all the time,” said Lisa Emerson, Oregon SHIBA program manager, “but only when they call us, or when we’re returning their call.”

SHIBA has a statewide network of trained volunteers who educate and advocate for people of all ages who have or want to enroll in Medicare. These volunteers, plus five state employees, help consumers understand their rights and Medicare insurance choices. To ask a question or find a SHIBA counselor in your area, contact SHIBA at 1-800-722-4134 (toll-free).